Rivet binding and upsetting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A rivet binding and upsetting apparatus includes an operating platform, a feeding module, a pushing module, and a transmitting module. The operating platform includes a bottom plate. The feeding module includes a feeding portion for dispensing a rivet. The pushing module includes a receiving portion for receiving the rivet from the feeding portion. The transmitting module includes a rivet gun. The feeding module is moveable in a first direction substantially parallel to the bottom plate, to align the feeding portion with the receiving portion. The pushing module is moveable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to align the receiving portion with the rivet gun for upsetting the rivet to bind the rivet in a mounting.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to rivets, and particularly to a rivet closing apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Riveting machines are well known and widely used in many industries. Rivets provide the best known technique for fastening an aerodynamic skin to a frame to provide a strong and aerodynamically smooth surface. Rivets are also used in the interior structure of an aircraft since they are the lightest and least expensive method of fastening structural components together.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with references to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a rivet binding and upsetting apparatus in accordance with an embodiment, a pushing plate is adjacent to a bottom plate of the rivet binding apparatus.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from a different aspect.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a third driving module and a transmitting member of the rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 1, but the pushing plate is away from the bottom plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a rivet binding apparatus in accordance with an embodiment. The rivet binding apparatus comprises an operating platform 10, a feeding module 20, a pushing module 30, a transmitting module 40, a first driving module 50, a second driving module 60, and a third driving module 70. In at least one embodiment, each of the first driving module 50, the second driving module 60, and the third driving module 70 is an air cylinder.

The operating platform 10 comprises a top plate 11 and a bottom plate 13 substantially parallel to the top plate 11. The feeding module 20, the pushing module 30, the transmitting module 40, the first driving module 50, the second driving module 60, and the third driving module 70 are located between the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13.

The feeding module 20 comprises two positioning portions 21, two sliding portions 22, and a feeding portion 23 attached to the two sliding portions 22. The two positioning portions 21 are substantially parallel to each other and secured to the bottom plate 13. Each sliding portion 22 is slidably attached to each positioning portion 21. The feeding portion 23 comprises a mounting plate 25 secured to the sliding portions 22, a feeding plate 27 connected to the mounting plate 25, a plurality of feeding posts 28 located on the feeding plate 27, and a moving block 29 connected to the mounting plate 28. In at least one embodiment, the feeding plate 27 is substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate 25. The moving block 29 is located between the two positioning portions 21 and secured to the first driving module 50. In at least one embodiment, a threaded rod (not shown) can be connected to the first driving module 50, and the moving block 29 attached to the threaded rod. When the threaded rod is rotated by the first driving module 50, the moving block 29 is moved along the threaded rod in a direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom plate 13. Each of the plurality of feeding posts 28 defines a feeding hole 280. The feeding hole 280 receives a rivet (not shown) from a rivet supplying device (not shown).

The pushing module 30 comprises two securing posts 31 connected to the top plate 11 and the bottom plate 13, two sliding blocks 32, a pushing plate 33 secured to the two sliding blocks 32, a plurality of receiving portions 34 located on the pushing plate 33, and two buffering posts 35 located between the pushing plate 33 and the top plate 11. Each sliding block 32 is slidably attached to each securing post 31. In at least one embodiment, the pushing plate 33 is substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate 13. The second driving module 60 is secured to the pushing plate 33. In at least one embodiment, a threaded rod (not shown) can be connected to the second driving module 60, and the pushing plate 33 attached to the threaded rod. When the threaded rod is rotated by the second driving module 60, the pushing plate 33 moves along the threaded rod in a direction that substantially perpendicular to the bottom plate 13. Each of the plurality of receiving portions 34 comprises a receiving post 340 and a driving portion 342 connected to the receiving post 340. The receiving post 340 defines a receiving hole 330. The driving portion 342 is used to position the rivet out of the feeding hole 280, so that the receiving hole 330 can receive the rivet. In at least one embodiment, the driving portion 342 is also an air cylinder.

The transmitting module 40 comprises a first fixing portion 41, a second fixing portion 43, a connecting plate 45 connected to the first fixing portion 41 and the second fixing portion 43, a transmitting member 47, a retaining plate 48, and a plurality of rivet guns 49 secured to the retaining plate 48. The third driving module 70 comprises a threaded rod 71 connected to the first fixing portion 41 and the second fixing portion 43. The transmitting member 47 is slidably attached to the threaded rod 71 and comprises a bottom panel 471. The retaining plate 48 is secured to the bottom panel 471. When the transmitting member 47 is slid along the threaded rod 71, the retaining plate 48 can slide together with the transmitting member 47. Each rivet gun 49 comprises a main body 490 and a head 492 connected to the main body 490.

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the use of the rivet binding apparatus of an embodiment. In use, the moving block 29 is moved in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom plate 13 by the first driving module 50, towards the pushing plate 33. Each feeding hole 280 receives a rivet from the rivet supplying device. When the feeding hole 280 is aligned with the receiving hole 330, the rivet in the feeding hole 280 is moved out of the feeding hole 280 and into the receiving hole 330. The pushing plate 33 is moved in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, towards the top plate 11, until the receiving holes 330 are aligned with the head 492. The threaded rod 71 is rotated by the third driving module 70 to move the transmitting member 47 in the first direction. Thus, the retaining plate 48 can be moved in the first direction to move the head 492 to abut the receiving holes 330. The rivets in the receiving holes 330 can be moved out by the driving portion 342 and forced into the head 492, to allow the rivet guns 49 to bind onto a mounting member (not shown).

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, including the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A rivet binding and upsetting apparatus comprising: an operating platform comprising a bottom plate; a feeding module comprising a feeding portion; the feeding portion configured for receiving a rivet; a pushing module comprising a receiving portion; the receiving portion configured for receiving the rivet from the feeding portion; a transmitting module comprising a rivet gun; wherein the feeding module is moveable in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom plate to align the feeding portion with the receiving portion, and the pushing module is moveable in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to align the receiving portion with the rivet gun for allowing the rivet gun to bind the rivet to a mounting member.
 2. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the feeding module further comprises a positioning portion attached to the bottom plate, and the receiving portion is slidably attached to the positioning portion.
 3. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first driving module, wherein the feeding portion further comprises a moving block and a sliding portion, the sliding portion is slidably attached to the positioning portion, and the moving block is attached to the first driving module.
 4. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the feeding portion further comprises a mounting plate connected to the sliding portion and a feeding plate connected to the mounting plate, a feeding block is located on the feeding plate, and a feeding hole is defined in the feeding block and configured for receiving the rivet.
 5. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second driving module, wherein the pushing module further comprises a securing post connected to the bottom plate and a pushing plate attached to the second driving module and slidably attached to the securing post, and the receiving portion is located on the pushing plate.
 6. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pushing module further comprises a sliding block slidably attached to the securing post, and the pushing plate is secured to the sliding block.
 7. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 5, wherein the receiving portion comprises a receiving post and a driving portion attached to the receiving post, the receiving post defines a receiving hole for receiving the rivet from the feeding portion, and the driving portion is configured to move the rivet into the rivet gun.
 8. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a third driving module, wherein the third driving module comprises a thread rod, the transmitting module further comprises a transmitting member slidably attached to the thread rod and a retaining plate connected to the transmitting member, and the rivet gun is located on the retaining plate.
 9. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the operating platform further comprises a top plate, the transmitting module further comprises a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are secured to the top plate, and the thread rod extends through the second fixing portion and connected to the first fixing portion.
 10. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the thread rod is substantially parallel to the bottom plate.
 11. A rivet binding and upsetting apparatus comprising: a an operating platform comprising a bottom plate; a feeding module comprising a feeding portion; the feeding portion comprising a positioning portion, a sliding portion slidably attached to the positioning portion, and a feeding plate connected to the sliding portion; the positioning portion attached to the bottom plate; a feeding block located on the feeding plate and configured for receiving a rivet; a pushing module comprising a receiving portion; the receiving portion configured for receiving the rivet from the feeding portion; a transmitting module comprising a rivet gun; wherein the sliding portion is moveable relative to the positioning portion to move the feeding plate in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the bottom plate for aligning the feeding post with the receiving portion, and the pushing module is moveable in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction to align the receiving portion with the rivet gun for allowing the rivet gun to bind the rivet to a mounting member.
 12. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a first driving module, wherein the moving block is attached to the first driving module.
 13. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 12, wherein the feeding portion further comprises a mounting plate substantially perpendicularly connected to the sliding portion and the feeding plate, and a feeding hole is defined in the feeding block and configured for receiving the rivet.
 14. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a second driving module, wherein the pushing module further comprises a securing post connected to the bottom plate and a pushing plate attached to the second driving module and slidably attached to the securing post, and the receiving portion is located on the pushing plate.
 15. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pushing module further comprises a sliding block slidably attached to the securing post, and the pushing plate is secured to the sliding block.
 16. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 14, wherein the receiving portion comprises a receiving post and a driving portion attached to the receiving post, the receiving post defines a receiving hole for receiving the rivet from the feeding portion, and the driving portion is configured to move the rivet into the rivet gun.
 17. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a third driving module, wherein the third driving module comprises a thread rod, the transmitting module further comprises a transmitting member slidably attached to the thread rod and a retaining plate connected to the transmitting member, and the rivet gun is located on the retaining plate.
 18. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 17, wherein the operating platform further comprises a top plate, the transmitting module further comprises a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are secured to the top plate, and the thread rod extends through the second fixing portion and connected to the first fixing portion.
 19. The rivet binding and upsetting apparatus of claim 17, wherein the thread rod is substantially parallel to the bottom plate. 